A beautiful forgotten Canary Island that is often snubbed by tourists has managed to avoid mass tourism unlike Tenerife and Lanzarote.

Tenerife has long been a firm hotspot with Brits as tourists flock to the island for its year long good weather, spectacular beaches and busy nightlife.

But if you are looking to escape the crowds and enjoy a more authentic holiday destination in the Canaries, then look no further than  El Hierro.

Known for its rugged beauty, El Hierro is the second smallest Canary Island and the most westerly with a population of just 11,000.

Around 1.2 million years ago, El Hierro was born after it emerged from the Atlantic Ocean following millennia of violent undersea volcanic eruptions, creating a wild landscape.

The heart-shaped island is off the tourist map with it receiving only a handful of visitors compared to its neighbours – approximately 20,300 visitors in 2023, while Tenerife, the largest Canary Island, saw more than 6.57 million.

Since 1997, El Hierro’s aim has been to grow visitor numbers gradually by committing to a sustainable development plan that promotes its culture and traditions, focussing on activities with limited environmental impact and improving the island’s infrastructure while preserving nature.

Davinia Suárez Armas, island director of tourism and transport, said the island prefers to “maintain our culture and share our quiet way of life with visitors.”

“We want to increase tourism and continue to improve the island’s standard of living, but not to the detriment of the residents’ quality of life or the island’s natural resources.”

There is only one set of traffic lights on the entire island, no tall hotels and it wasn’t until 1962 that El Hierro got its first paved road.

The clear waters surrounding El Hierro make it a divers paradise, where an array of fish and rays can be spotted. The area of Punta Restinga located opposite the fishing harbour of the town of La Restinga is one of the main diving hubs on the island.

By day, divers can see spiny puffer fish, as well as many small fish typical of the area such as whitebait, damselfish, lee fish, and bream – and possibly a manta ray. At night, stingrays and lobsters can be seen.

Back on land, the island is known for its unusual rock formations and deep black sand. El Hierro also offers plenty of opportunities for outdoor adventures. 

All over the island, you will find all kinds of restaurants serving up traditional Canary Islands cuisine without the crowds.

El Hierro is home to Designation of Origin wines, fresh fish caught using protected artisan fishing techniques, unique cheeses and typical dishes thanks to marked farming traditions.

Quesadillia, a traditional dessert from El Hierro, is a smooth-textured cake made from local cheese, sugar, lemon and anise in a wood-fired oven.

There is no direct route to this unique airport from the UK but El Hierro has its own airport, here you can get daily direct flights to and from Tenerife and Gran Canaria. Alternatively you can catch a ferry from the port of Los Cristianos of Tenerife which takes around two and a half hours.